January 6, 2006

Happy New Year!  May the events of the year 2006 bring more peace and justice to the world.

We have so much to share with you.  Let us start with our Advent, Christmas, and New Year celebrations in Trujillo.  Click here for photos.  First, the church community marks Advent with novena Masses the nine nights before Christmas during which a different group from the parish presents a message during the homily time.  I am part of a youth group that presented a drama on the message of the prophets.  Also in anticipation of Christmas, that same youth group held what they call a "chocolatada" for the neighborhood children.  On Christmas Eve they held a party for over 250 children, playing games and giving them hot chocolate, bread, and a toy for each child.  Papa Noel (Santa Claus) and his wife also came!  We celebrated Christmas in much the same way as in the U.S., except that the modest gift-giving happened only with the small children.  Also, nearly everyone (including children) stayed up all night on the 24th.  Not being late night people, we made it until just after mid-night. The main highlight of the new year's celebrations is the muñecos.  Every house makes a life-sized person out of old clothing.  When mid-night comes, everyone sets fire to his or her muñeco.  What a site - burning fake people at mid-night!  It symbolizes out with the old and in with the new.    

School is out for the summer here and Hannah enjoys the long summer days.  Ralph continues to bring life to this dry desert with some community gardens.  We continue to work on two of them, one at the main parish of Señor de los Milagros and another slightly larger garden at the chapel Señora de la Misericordia.  Click here for some photos.  

The nearby Fe y Alegria school recently celebrated its anniversary with some great food and folkloric dances.  To see some photos, click here.  This elementary school serves the very poor children on the outer edge of Alto Trujillo.  The sisters of Santa Maria de la Providencia run the school.  They do great work and we proudly work with them in various projects and consider them friends and partners in ministry.

As many of you know, our older children Brian and Katie joined us in Perú for Christmas.  We loved having the entire family together and for those who are interested, click here for the photos of some of our family activities.  

As difficult as it can be to be away from our friends and family, especially during the holidays, the Peruvian community has welcomed us and we feel very privileged to share our lives with them.  Life is very difficult for our new friends.  The grinding daily poverty takes a tole on their physical, mental and spiritual health.  Many people fall victim to the violence, lack of health care and basic sanitation.  And yet, there are many signs of hope.  The people of our neighborhood recently agreed to work together and provide overnight security and watch one another's houses.  We are stronger when we work together!

We pray for you daily.  Let us continue to pray for God's love to permeate our world through our practice of justice and our love for our neighbor.

In peace and love,
Ralph, Theresa and Hannah